Developing Flash Lite Widgets for the Chumby Platform

I gave this Chumby talk a few times at local events and other places. I also placed it online as a reference for dozens of Chumby widget application developers to leverage.

USERGROUPS & ONLINE RESOURCE

Transcript

1. Developing Flash Lite Widgets for the Chumby Platform Scott Janousek http://www.scottjanousek.com/blog/
2. Seminar Agenda • Introductions • Platform Overview • Flash, Widgets, Capabilities • Walkthrough(s) • Wrap Up & QA
3. Introductions
4. About Me • Flash, Flash Lite, and recently: Flex & Air • Community, blogging, training • Coauthor, speaker, enthusiast, evangelist • Flash Lite 1.1, 2.x, 3.0 • Company • Bio: http://www.scottjanousek.com/About.html • Gadget Lover • Psyched about the potentials for Chumby
5. Non‐PC Flash Portfolio • Mobile (Partial) • Chumby Widgets Personal Blog RSS Feed, BlackJack, Hot Sauce Throwdown (Coming Soon) Kaboom, Chum‐ilities, Chumby Pong Ski Report (Soon), Snake Game, iCanHasCheezBurger
6. I ♥ Gadgets/Devices • Suffering from mild “Gadget Addiction” • iRiver, Nokia, LG, PSP, DS Lite, Chumby, & more • A few devices* I use on regular basis … * Not to scale. ☺
7. Platform Overview
8. CHUMBY Front Back
9. Hardware Specifications • 350 MHz ARM Processor • 64 MB SDRAM • 3.5” LCD color touchscreen display • 2 external USB 2.0 full speed ports • Stereo 2W Speakers • Headphone output • Accelerometer (“Motion/Force Sensor”) • AC Powered
10. What is the Chumby? • “Glance‐able” Consumer Electronic Device • Linux Based • Open Platform • Non‐Portable* • Wi‐Fi enabled* • chumby.com portal • Runs “widgets” (aka Flash Lite SWFs) • Flash Enabled ‐ UI and Widgets • Your personalized desk buddy * As shipped – may be modified through hacks and mods
11. What is the Chumby? (cont) HARDWARE SOFTWARE/CONTENT • DEVELOP • CREATE • INNOVATE CRAFTS • HACK IT • MOD‐ify IT • CUSTOMIZE • PERSONALIZE
12. How/Where can I get one? • Currently shipping only in U.S. • Not a global product (yet) • Purchase ($179.95 USD) – http://store.chumby.com/
13. Flash, Widgets, Capabilities
14. Chumby Widgets • Flash Lite 3 SWFs • Delivered OTA (over‐the‐air) from Chumby Network • Widget Configuration SWFs – Customize via web • Share widgets via: – Portal Categories – Send directly from Chumby via your “Chum‐lists” • Widget SWFs in “channels” (think T.V.) • Widget Duration – 1 second minimum – Can be customized by user
15. “Channels” • • Channel is simply a container for widget(s) • 1 or more channels for each chumby • Each widget has a defined playtime internal – one second to FOREVER (user must enable, later) TIME 5 Widgets in channel “foobar” 15 seconds 15 seconds 5 seconds 2 minutes
16. Chumby Control Panel
17. User Input • Touch Screen – 320 x 240 3.5” color display • Accelerometer – Force and movement in X,Y,Z • Toggle/Bend Switch – Used for UI/Menu panel navigation • Voice (Microphone support ( through Flash = not yet) ) • Hacks and “mods” also possible
18. Flash Lite 3 on Chumby • Based on Flash 8 Player • Performance improvements over Flash Lite 2.x • Integrated Development Environment – Adobe Flash CS3 + Adobe Device Central • .FLV (“Flash Video”) support • Flash Player updated OTA (over the Air) • Chumby APIs • Flash Lite Development Practices still apply!
19. Flash Development Tools • Commercial –Adobe Flash CS3 (& Device Central) • http://www.adobe.com/products/creativesuite/ • Open Source –MING • http://ming.sourceforge.net –MTASC • http://osflash.org/mtasc • http://www.mtasc.org
20. Flash CS3 Target Publish Settings Flash 8 and ActionScript 2 • Easy, no updates required • Need to be aware of constraints of Flash Lite! Flash Lite 3 and ActionScript 2 • Unsupported features of Flash 8 will be disabled • Utilize Device Central • Code Hinting • FL3 Updates needed
21. fscommand2 API Command Return Value FullScreen ‐1 GetDeviceID Unique ID GetNetworkConnectionName ‐1 GetNetworkConnectionStatus 1 GetNetworkGeneration ‐1 GetNetworkRequestStatus 0 GetNetworkStatus ‐1 GetPlatform “Linux 2.6.16” GetBatteryLevel 228 GetMaxBattery 100 getMaxVolumeLevel 100 GetSignalLevel Number GetLocalLongDate ‐1 GetLocalShortDate ‐1 GetLocalTime ‐1 GetTimeZoneOffset 0 Command Return Value GetVolumeLevel Number getFreePlayerMemory Number GetTotalPlayerMemory 12,542 KB ResetSoftKeys ‐1 GetSoftKeyLocation ‐1 Quit 0 getPowerSource 1 SetInputTextType 0 SetSoftKeys ‐1 StartVibrate ‐1 StopVibrate 0 GetLanguage ‐1 GetTimeHours Number GetTimeMinutes Number GetTimeSeconds Number GetDateDay Number GetDateMonth Number GetDateYear Number GetDateWeekDay Number
22. Properties Command Return Value _compoundSound 1 _capEmail 0 _capLoadData 1 _capMFI 0 _capMIDI 0 _capSMAF 0 _capSMS 0 _capStreamSound 1 _cap4WayKeyAS 1 $version FL 8,1,52,0
23. Sensor API Sensor ActionScript Touchscreen _rawX = ASnative(5,10); // get the last raw touchscreen X coordinate _rawY = ASnative(5,11); // get the last raw touchscreen Y coordinate Display _getLCDMute = ASnative(5,19); // get the value of the LCD "mute" _setLCDMute = ASnative(5,20); // set the value of the LCD "mute" _setLCDMute(0); // full on _setLCDMute(1); // dim _setLCDMute(2); // full off Speaker _getSpeakerMute = ASnative(5,17); _setSpeakerMute = ASnative(5,18); _setSpeakerMute(1); DC Power _dcPower = ASnative(5,16); Accelerometer _accelerometer = ['ASnative'](5,60); version = _accelerometer(0); timestamp = _accelerometer(1); currentX = _accelerometer(2); currentY = _accelerometer(3); currentZ = _accelerometer(4); avgX = _accelerometer(5); avgY = _accelerometer(6); avgZ = _accelerometer(7); impactX = _accelerometer(8); impactY = _accelerometer(9); impactZ = _accelerometer(10); impactTime = _accelerometer(11); impactHints = _accelerometer(12); Bend Sensor _bent = ASnative(5,25); // get the "bent" flag (0/1)
24. Widget Security • Flash Lite 3 sandbox – Based on Flash 8 Security – Crossdomain.xml – Publish Settings • Network Access Only • Proxying data – Setup your own server to connect external one – Communicate between Widget and your server • For more info – Adobe Flash 8 Security Whitepaper • http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flashplayer/articles/flash_player_8_security.pdf
25. Working with Audio • Supported format: – MP3 • Usage: – Embedded on timeline – Attaching from library – Loading from remote server (not streaming) • Toggle – Consider having a toggle – Default to disabled sound state
26. Working with Flash Video • Flash Lite 3 supports native Flash Video • Utilize custom objects: – Video, NetStream, NetConnection • Suggested Settings: – 12 FPS – Video Data Rate: 220 – Audio 32kbps (mono) or less – Dimensions: 320x240 or smaller • Avoid FLV Media Components (as with mobile devices) • Playback Methods Embedded Progressive Streaming Avoid SWF “Bloat” Recommended Recommended
27. Widget Configurators • Text input = a Chumby “chore” • Widget Configurator is: – Flash UI – widget parameters (i.e. variables) – “Customize” option within widgets in channels
28. Working with Data • loadVars, loadVariables • loadMovie • XML • XML Socket • SWX – www.swxformat.org • Persistent Data – Shared Objects – Widget Configuration Variables – External Database (PHP + MYSQL, etc)
29. Chumby Variables Widget Parameters _chumby_chumby_name Name assigned to Chumby by owner (Ex: “Sue”) _chumby_widget_instance_id Unique GUID assigned to each widget instance (Ex: 12121212‐1212‐1212‐1212‐121212121212) _chumby_user_name Chumby owner username (Example: “scott”) Widget Configuration Variables this[ ‘foobar’ ] Widgets that have a desktop configuration can set custom variables which each widget instance. • Think of as Flashvars, or “environmental” variables (as in UNIX) Usage: trace( this[ ‘_chumby_chumby_name’] ); trace( this[ ‘foobar’ ] );
30. Some Best Practices • _lockroot, or use non absolute path names • Enlarge hit areas of button states • Use LARGE (and readable) TEXT • Implement Co‐operative mode • Keep file size small (< 200k) • Avoid lengthy preloaders • Device Central Chumby Profile • Sound should always be optional • Toggled version textfield for each Widget (Ex: v1.20) • More soon … contained in: – Chumby “1‐sheet” PDF reference ‐ Coming Soon
31. My Development Resources • Chumby wireframe templates (PDF) – http://www.scottjanousek.com/blog/2007/11/14/chumby‐wireframe‐templates‐pdf/ • Chumby Adobe Device Central Profile – http://www.scottjanousek.com/blog/2007/11/22/chumby‐device‐profile‐for‐adobe‐device‐ central‐cs3/
32. Tips & Tricks • Chumby + Ming • Chumby Easter Eggs – Copy SWF to Bootable USB – Remote Development via NFS … more contained in the Chumby WIKI
33. Walkthrough(s)
34. Developing Widgets (Examples) • RSS Reader (News Reader) • Video Clock • Accelerometer
35. Testing a widget Off Device • Virtual Chumby – www.chumby.com/mychumby • Adobe Device Central – My Chumby Profile – Not Certified! On Device • USB Stick – Bootable USB Stick with SWF • NFS – Setup mounted drive • Upload to Chumby Portal – Single channel – Single widget – Manually Refresh Widget • Send to Friend – “Chumby List” • Send to a 2nd Chumby – 1 for Testing – 1 for Use
36. STEPS • Uploading a Widget 1. Create your widget 2. Create a 80 x 60 .jpg icon 3. Login into chumby.com 4. Goto Widgets Tab 5. Enter required textfields 6. Set Widget duration 7. Upload Widget (SWF) 8. Upload icon (.JPG) 9. Upload Widget Config (SWF) 10. Set to private (testing) or public (accessible to all) 11. Virtual Chumby Compatible? 12. Click UPLOAD WIDGET button
37. STEPS • Deploying a widget 1. Upload Widget (SWF) 2. Set Widget to “Public” on Widget Upload Screen 3. Widget becomes public ONLY after being reviewed 4. Once public, users can add the widget to channel(s) 5. Users can rate content once live
38. Chumby “Ecosystem” CHUMBY – Inter‐dispersed Ad’s within channels – Device Personalization – Accessories (charms, etc) VIA CONTENT – Viral Games – eCards – Custom Data/API – Highly Personalized Content – As a Platform Marketing Tool for existing content – Subscription Based 3RD PARTY HW & Crafts – Add‐on components (FM Radio, etc) – Custom Mods? – Arts & Crafts Thoughts on the ecosystem thus far:
39. Chumby Mods & Hacks • Some Hacks – “Chum‐bot” – “Chum‐roomba” – ER Photo Battery Hack* • …possibilities are seemingly endless! Bunnie’s Chum‐bot Chum‐roomba Battery Hack
40. Wrap Up
41. Announcements • Global – Adobe Devnet Article on Chumby – frame27.blogspot.com • Chumby games to review? Send’em.
42. Discussion/Q & A “Food for thought” – Future versions of Flash Lite pushed down OTA (Flash Lite 4???) – Flash Cast‐like product? (“Distro system”?) – Flash Home‐ like product? (“Dashboards”?) – Adobe AIR apps? (in possible future Chumby’s?) – Intercommunication between chumby’s – 3rd Party Hardware? (… like FM receiver) … your ideas?
43. My Contact Info • MY CHUMBY HANDLE – scotttjanousek • EMAIL – scott AT scottjanousek DOT com • LINKS – www.scottjanousek.com/blog/ – scottjanousek.mobi – www.flashmobilebook.com – frame27.blogspot.com – www.hookenmobile.com – chumby.scottjanousek.com
44. URLS SOME USEFUL RESOURCES – www.chumby.com – wiki.chumby.com – forum.chumby.com – blog.chumby.com – www.adobe.com/devnet/devices/chumby.html – chumbylover.wordpress.com – www.flashmobilegroup.org – www.flashmobilebook.com – frame27.blogspot.com – www.flickr.com/groups/chumbychums – www.flickr.com/photos/11410414@N06 – www.scottjanousek.com/blog/2007/11/14/chumby‐wireframe‐templates‐pdf/ – www.scottjanousek.com/blog/2007/11/22/chumby‐device‐profile‐for‐adobe‐device‐ central‐cs3/ • SEARCH FLICKR, YOUTUBE, GOGGLE, ETC FOR MORE … – Fortunately, “chumby” is fairly unique keyword!
45. Thanks for attending!